Exhaust steam operated auxiliaries



a f 58, l931- J. F. GRIFFIN 1,835,773

` EXHAUST STEAM OPERATED AUXILIARIES By I r .j

Dec. 8, 1931.

J. F. GRIFFIN EXHAUST STAM OPERATEQ AUXILIARIES Filed Feb. 8, `1929 3 Sheets-Shet 2 f 20 fg /k I A J s f 7 f 7 INVENTOR.

B Y M,

JOSEPH G/z/FF/N www@ A TTORNEYS,

a?? ab; aff

EXHAUST STEAM OPERATED AUXILIARIES Filed Feb;` 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @mp5- @WIFE- E 32% cuaff 20 19 INVENTOR JOSEPH Ff G'Q/,fF/A/ A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 narran stares ross-rn n. GRIFFIN, or TEANEKGK, NEW JERSEY, Assenonfro rnn surnnnna'rea Parana sismica coMrANY, onivnw YORK, Yn. Y.

EXHAUsT STEAM OPERATED AUXILIARES Application 'alea .rebiuary s, 1929. Serial no. essere.

rhis invention relates to an apparatus for improving the eciency'of auxiliaries operated by exhaust steam from a steam engine Y and p=.u"ticularlyy a' locomotivev engine. In

i, the operation of exhaust steam auxiliaries ofa locomotive, such, for example, as the feed water heater or exhaust steam injector, it is the usual practiceto tahethe exhaust steam either from the exhaust steam cavi- .a ties oi the valve chest or from the exhaust steam pipes. it is found however that the pressure of exhaust steam at such places' is considerably lower than in the cylinders at the period of exhaust. 'To operate the-auxil- :Ls iaries eflicientlyit thereforebe'comes necessary, at tiines to 'supplement the exhaust steam by live steam drawn from the boiler, or, as in stationary and marine practice where the main engine exhaust pressures are D low, to restrict 'the free egress of exhaust steam of auxiliaryengines, thus increasing the exhaust steam'v pressure to the desired point with a consequent loss in eiiiciency of Vthe auxiliaries. Vith the device about to be ,f, described the exhaust steam of the -main'engine can be obtained at a suihciently lhigh pressure to enable its use without decreasing main or auxiliary eiicienc-y; In fact the main engine eiiiciency will be increased due tothe :as resulting decrease in the exhaust'pressure.

The taking of live steam direct-lyfrom the boiler for 4supplementing the exhaust steam necessarily represents a drainupon the boiler and involves extra fuel consumption" and :J5 therefore it is highly desirable to avoid', if

possible, resorting to thisex'pfmiient.V It-has also been found that the pressure of the`exhaust steam can be considerably increased by bleeding the engines cylinder preferably j 'a towards the latter part of the expansion stroke and that although such bleedingV necessarily brings about a reductionof the sueam pressure 1n the cylinderv durmgfa por tion of the expansion,-stroke',.theworlrlosh` represented by this reduction ofpressure in the cylinder, is more than compensatedy 4for by the advantage gained by increasing the steaml pressure of thelexhaust steam supply to the auxiliary. In -fact the expedientof il bleeding the engines cylinder, during. the

expansion stroke has been practiced successv fully in stationaryy power plants with great advantage. It-hasfbeen a problem ofV great diliicultyhowever to provide apractical installation for bleeding the cylinder of a simple reciprocating engine such as a locomotive enginein the manner above described for securing a pressure higher than exists in the exhaust passages. lam aware however that la suggestion has been made for equippinga locomotive with a device for performing the cylinder bleeding function but such-suggestion'is subject to the objection thatan installation constructed in accordance ktherewith results in disturbing the normal events of the distributing or slide valve.

The principal obj ect of the presentinvention is to provide a new and improved construction for improving Vthe elciency of the exhaust lsteam operated auxiliaries of a lofcomotlve steam engine.

Viewed Jfrom another angle theobject of the lpresent invention is to provide a new and improved construction ot -an installation for obtaining exhaustvsteam directly from theA cylinders at the same. instant that the distributing valve opens to exhaust steam or if desired this invention by the proper arrangementof levers etc. will permit bleeding the engines cylinder during a portion of the expansion stroke Athereof in 'order to obtain for the heater,

reversalV of the piston.

I A. further Objectis toso connect said valve `with a movablepa'rt of the engine that' it will function-to obtain the desired effect without,

kin any way, disturbingthe normal events o the main distributing valve. y i

The above and other objects will appear more'ffully from the following more detailed description and byk reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, 1wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive engine showing an installation thereon constructed in accordance with the present invention, the engines cylinder, the main distributing valve and the valve of the present invention being shown in section; Figs. 2 to 'l2 inclusive are diagramn'iatic views showingr the relative positions et the distributing valve and the bleeding valve during different points of the pistons stroke, the views of Figs-2 to 7 representing the functie-ning et the parts for an 85% cutoff. and Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are views similar to Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, showing the relative positions of the valves with a 30% cut-off.

As shown in the drawings. the numeral 1()-indicates the locomotive cylinder having the vusual piston 11, slidably mounted therein, said piston having connected thereto the usual piston rod 12, connect-ed to the crosshead 13, slidably mounted in the crosshead guideways 14. In the particularV constructional example selected for illustration the main distributing valve 15 isshown as receivingv its motion from a valve gear of the type known as theV Balzer-Pilliod, the construction of -which is well known. YSaid gear includes a pluralitv of links and levers, the constructional details-of which form no part of the present invention and therefore al detailed description ofV such valve gear will not be given. It will be sutlicient to state that such gear includes a lever-16 known in the art as the lap and lead.lever. This lap and lead lever is characteristic of a number ofvalve gears such as the one selected for illustration in this application. In each of such gears the lap and lead lever travels in what may be termed an eccentric path resulting from a combined motion imparted to the lever bv connections therefrom to the driving pin and crosshead of the loco- Y vious that the casing which detines the valve motive.

At any vsuitable point. immediately adjacent to the cylinder 10. a valve 17 is provided. which valve is slidably mounted within a valve chamber 18 and which chamber coinmunicates with the cylinder 10 through the conduits 19 and 20. For the purpose oi the present disclosure the valve 17 and chamber 18-bave been shown as integrally associated with the cylinder 10. This showing however is to be considered merely as illustrative and not as limiting the invention to such integral association. It will be perfectly obchamber 13 can readily be attached to env part of the cylinder 10 andthat communication with'the interior ot the cylinder can Vbe established through external pipes rather than through cored conduits, or passages, such as indicated in the drawings.

The valve 17 has suitably associated therewith a valve rod 21, which at its outer end,

- 1n the drawings and as indicated by the reference character 23. Connected to the slidev block 22 by means of a pin 24 and slot Connection 25, is the lower end of a valve actuating lever 26. The upper end of said lever is fulcrumed by a similar pin 27 and slot connection 28, upon a bracket 30, fixed to any suitable stationary support, such as the valve chest of the engine. Between its ends the' lever 26 is pivotally connected by means of the pin 31 to the lap and lead lever 16, hereinbefore referred to.

From the above described construction it will be obvious that the valve 17 will have imparted to it motionsin the same directions as themotions of the distributing valve 15, but due to the length of the lever 26 and the eccentric motion of the lap and lead lever 16 the motions of the valve 17 will lead the motions of the distributing .valve 15. That is sponding positions of the bleeding or auxiliary exhaust valve 17 are shown.

-eferring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, which shows the piston` 11 nea-ring the end of its expansion stroke, it will be noted that the bleeding valve17 has reached a position such that it is just about to uncover the conduit 19. The-distributing valve 15 is now covering the right `end port of the cylinder, and the piston 11, valve 15, andvalve 17, are all travelling in the saine direction as shown by thearrows. The piston has performed approximately94% of its stro-ke.

Y It will be noted from Fig. 3 of the drawings that the valve 15 is just about to begin to uncover the right hand steam port to release the steam to the exhaust. In the meantime, the valve 17 has fully uncovered the port 19 and the piston has traversed in the interval about 3% of its stroke. The valve 15, piston 11, and valve 17, are still travelling in the same direction as shown infFig. 2.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings the parts are shown as travelling in the opposite direction to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The valve 17 has closed the conduit 19 and is leading the valve 15. The latter, itwill be noted, has begun to close the right hand steam port and the piston has completed about 94% of its. return stroke.

Fig. 5 shows the piston 11 just as it is completing its stroke with all parts moving in the samedireotion as in Fig. 4.

` Fig. 6 shows the distributing valve 15 just as it is about to reverse its direction of travel and when it is in a position such that the right hand steam port is fully open to the live steam. The valve 17, iii the meantime, has reversed its direction of travel and is Inoving from right to left. The piston hasperformed about 30% of its stroke as indicated. In Fig. 7 the valve 15 is shown in cutoff position, which, in theV diagrammatic views shown in Figs. 2 to 7, has been assumed to occur when the piston has performed of the stroke as shown in the ligure now being discussed. The valve 17 is travelling faster than the valve 15 but has not yet reachedthe point where the conduit 19 is opened. n

It will be noted from the above that the bleeding valve is open during approximately 3% of the pistons stroke in Vadvance of the release position of the distributing valve and that the conduit 19 will remain open during substantially the entire period ofk exhaust. The lead of the bleeding valve 17, over the distributing valve 15 however will cause the conduit 19 toV be cut off slightly in advance of the point of closure, but, as the exhaust steam at such pointis at its lowest pressure, the slight amount ofstea-m lostin the supply to the auxiliary is negligible. During the compression period, the admission period, and

lthe major part of the expansion period of the pistoiis stroke, the valve 17 maintains the conduit 19 closed, as clearly shownv in F igs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. `The functioning of the bleeding or auxiliary exhaust' valve 17 has been described above in connectionivitli the conduit 19 and thevalve events of the main-distributing valve for the .right hand steam port it will be understood the position of the bleeding valve with respect to the con--` duit 2O andthe left hand steam port. will be similar to those shown and described in connection with Figs. 2- to 7. Y Y

ln Figs. 8 to 12 inclusiveI have shown the relative positions of the auxiliary exhaust valve 17 when the valve gear is set for .a 30% cutoii', the valve events correspond to those shown in Figs. 2 to 7. 1

It will be seen from the above that the expedient of bleeding the engines cylinder dur@ ing the expansion stroke can readily be per- A formed with a locomotive equipped with any valve gear of the type employing a `lever which receives a combined motion from the reciprocating piston or the crosshead,`and the rotating driving pin, or driving rod, and that the motion for the bleeding valve is ob V tained from a lever connected with the socalled lap and lead lever at any desired point, the variation of which point will increase or decrease the extent of bleeding.- ltv Wille-.lso

be seen that the bleeding valve will lead the distributing valve, that such bleeding valve can be located at any suitablepoint upon the engines vcylinder and that itspiesence will not. in any way, interfere with the normal events of the distributing valve. The present invention therefore enables exhaust steam to be obtained .for an auxiliary such,

for example,` Vas .the feed water heater, the pressure of which steam is greatly augmented bythe. extraction of steam during the expan- Y sion stroke, but as the steam is extracted during such a small period of such expansion stroke, the loss of work done in the eiigineis cylinder is practically negligible and is more than compensated for by the increased efficiency' in tlie operation of the feed Water heater. Y

The valve chamber 18 is shown as provided lwith a flanged outlet 35 to which is connected a pipe leading the feedr Water heater or other auxiliary that is to be supplied with exhaust steam. In the installation shown the entire exhaust steam supply is preferably drawn from the valve chamber 1S and the usual connections between the feed water heater or other auxiliary and the exhaust lsteam cavities of the cylinder are omitted. It will be understood however that such usual eoniiections may beeinployed and the exhaust steam supplied therethrough maybe supplemented by steam from the valve chamber 18, as long as said usual connections are provided with a check valve to prevent the escape of high pressure Vstm-iin from the heater or auxiliary.'

TWhile the constructional details of theembodiinent of the invention selected for AAthe C present disclosure are particularly adapted for use in connection with an engine equipped with a valve gear having a lap and lead lever, it will be understood Vthat the principles of the inventionfare notlimited to gearsv of such type.` As it is a primary requisite that the auxiliary valve have a motion that is a matheniatical function of the motions ofthe pis ton and distributing valve it will be obvious that in any valve gear where the motionfor the distributing valve is obtained directly from a rotatingpart such as the driving axle by the use of cams-or eccentrics suitable mechanismV maybe connected with 'the valve for actuating` the auxiliary valve.

- lt will likewise be understood that althouoh the term bleediiio has been used to describe the valve 17 and its function, the term is not used in 'the restricted senseas applying to the withdrawal of steam from the cylinders during theexpansion stroke only but applying to Withdrawal of steam from said cylinders'during any desired `period of the pistons workingstrolrey between the time of cut olf to .the time where reversal of the piston takes'place, it being obvious that thek period of such steam withdrawal' may, inv the particular constructional rexample dis closed'be readily controlled or varied as desired by varying the location of the fulcrum of the lever 25, the point'of pivotal connection of saidlever to the lever 16 'or the point Aof connection to said lever 26 of the rod 21 of the valve i v rIt will 'likewise be understood that many gear Y CIJ CTl

other changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the principles of the invention.

I claim: y

l. rlhe combination with the engine cylinder of a locomotive having an adjustable distributing valve gear comprising Va lever which receives a motion from the c-rosshead and driving pin of the engine, of a second valve chamber and valve additional to the main distributing valve, conduits connecting said chamber With said cylinder, and means e and communicating With the engine cylinder,

and an actuating lever for the latter connected to said iirst named lever to cause said second valve to be opened during a portion of the Working stroke and also during the exhaust stroke in Y predetermined accordance with the varied adjustments of the main distributing valve.

3. In a locomotive, a valve gear having a pivotally supported lever which receives a combined motion from the crosshead and driving pin, and from which lever motion is imparted to the adjustable main distributing valve, a second pivotally supported lever actuated by said first named lever, a conduit connecting an exhaust steam operated auxiliary to the interior of the engine cylinder, and a valve operated by said last named lever, interposed in said conduit for permitting steam to pass to said conduit during a portion of the expansion stroke and during` substantially the entire exhaust stroke in predetermined accordance with the varied adjustments of the main distributing valve.

4. ln a locomotive, a valve gear having a pivotally supported lever Which receives a combined motion from the crosshead and driving pin and from Which levery motion is imparted to the adjustable main distributing valve, a conduit connecting an exhaust'V steam operated auxiliary Withthe interior of the engine cylinder, an auxiliary valve located adjacent to said, cylinder for controlling the flow of steam to said conduit, a sec-- ond pivotally mounted lever also receiving a combined motion from said crosshead and driving pin, a connection between said second lever and auxiliary valve for acuating the latter, the length of the moment arm of said second lever to said auxiliary valve being greater than the moment arm of the first leverto said distributing Avalve whereby the motion of said auxiliary valve Will lead that of the distributing valve in predetermined accord With the varied adjustments of the latter.Y

5. In a locomotive having a main distributing valve adjustable to varying control positions, an exhaust steam operated auxiliary and means for-increasing the pressure of the exhaust' steam supplied to said auxiliary by extracting vsteam from the engine cylinder during a portion of the Working stroke, said means comprising an auxiliary valve mounted for reciprocation Ain a valve casing located adjacent to said cylinder in predetermined accordance with thel varied adjustments of the main distributing valve, said auxiliary valve being additional to, but independent oi", the main distributing valve and means for operating said auxiliary valve-trom the valve gear of the locomotive.

6. The combination with a locomotive engine having a cylinder, a distributing valve adjustable to varying control positions and having ported communication With both ends of said cylinder, and an exhaust steam operated auxiliary, of means for extracting steam directly from the cylinder of theengine and supplying it to the auxiliary, said means comprising a valve casing having a reciprocating valve mounted therein and means 'jor actuating said last named valve to cause it to operate in timed relationship With said distributing valve in predetermined accord with the varied adjustments ofthe latter, and -similarly'at both ends of the piston stroke, to establish communication With said cylinder during a portion of the pistons Working stroke.' Y

7. ln a simple reciprocating steam engine, anelement so connectedy with the distributing valve gearand with a member operated by the engines piston that the motion of said element is a mathematical function ot' the motion of said piston and the adjustable main distributing valve, a chamber havin(r u n f "C aassa 'es connectinfr it With said c linder an auxiliary valve mounted in said chamber, and

means connected with said element for opening said auxiliary valve during the pistons Working stroke between the time of cut olf and the time of the pistons reversal in predetermined accordance With the varied adjustments of the main distributing valve.

8. In a simple reciprocating engine, a cylinderpiston andan adj ustablemain distributing valve and valve gear, a valve chamber communicating With said cylinder, an auxiliary valve mounted in said valve chamber, an element connected with the main distributing valve gear and with said auxiliary valve to cause the latter to be opened coincidentally With the openings of the main distributing valve :tor exhausting thecylinder at each end thereofv in predetermined accordance With the Varied adjustments of the main distributing valve.

9. In a simple reciprocating engine, a cylinder, piston and an adjustable main distributing Valve and valve gear", a valve chamber communicating With said cylinder, an auxiliary valve mounted in said Valve chamber, an

element connected With the main distributing v valve gear and With said auxiliary Valve to cause the latterto be opened coincidentally With the openings of the main distributing valve for exhausting the cylinder at each end thereof in predetermined accordance With the varied adjustments of the main distributing valve, said auxiliary Valve being held open during substantially the entire exhaust period of the pistons stroke.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH E. GRIFFIN. 

